Apparatus for removing shale, coal, and like from gravel



- 1943. c. I. LEVEKE 2,336,991

APPARATUS FOR REMOVING S HALE, COAL AND LIKE FROM GRAVEL.

Filed ma 12, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. 14, 1943. c LEVEKE APPARATUS FOR REMOVING SHALE, COAL AND LIKE FROM GRAVEL Filed ma 12, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 14, 1943 APPARATUS FOR REMOVING SHALE, COAL, AND LIKE FROM GRAVEL Chester 1. Leveke, Des Moines, Iowa Application May 12, 1941, Serial No. 393,048

((31. Wit-464) 8 Claims.

The principal object of my invention is to provide an efficient machine that will deliver washed gravel substantially free from coal, shale and other undesirable matter.

A further object of my invention is to provide an apparatus for removing shale, coal, dirt and the like from gravel that is easily operated and kept in repair.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a gravel cleaner that is economical in manufacture and durable in use.

These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

My invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side sectional view of my device.

Fig. 2 is a top plan sectional view of the lower portion of the trough portion of the device.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the rear portion of the device.

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional View of the apparatus taken on line t l of Fig. l and more fully illustrates its construction.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of the bearing portion of the device.

In most uses for gravel it is necessary that the same be free from undesirable matter such as dirt, clay, shale, coal and like. To remove such undesirable substances I have provided a device that not only successfully accomplishes the desired results but delivers the gravel continuously and in a clean washed condition.

Referring to the drawings, I have used the I numeral id to designate the trough portion of my device. This trough portion is designed to have its forward end elevated so that it extends forwardly and upwardly as shown in Fig. 1. The numeral ll designates a vertical flange in the bottom of the trough portion and near its forward end as shown in Fig. 2. The numeral l2 designates the gravel outlet port between the flange H and the forward end of the trough memher and located in the bottom of the trough member. The numeral l3 designates a bearing member secured on the rear end of the trough portion and communicating with the inside of the trough portion as shown in Fig. 5. The numeral it designates a stub shaft in the hearing it and extending forwardly a distance within the trough portion. This member H5 is secured against movement relative to the member I3 by any suitable means such as a cap screw E5. The numeral l6 designates a passageway that extends longitudinally through the center of the stub shaft I l. The numeral ll designates outwardly and rearwardly extending passageways in the member l4 communicating with the passageway l6 and the outer surface of the member I4 as shown in Fig. 5. The numeral l8 designates a floating sleeve embracing the forward end portion of the shaft I l, embracing the outlet ends of the passageway 11 and positioned within the trough as shown in Fig. 5. The numeral l9 designates a slot opening in the wall of the sleeve IS. The numeral 20 designates an elongated cylindrical element having its rear end embracing the sleeve I 8 and with its wall relatively thick at one side relative to its diametrically opposite wall as shown in Fig. 4 in order that the same will be mounted eccentrically on and around the fixed stub shaft I l. This cylindrical member 26 extends forwardly within the trough l0 and has a plurality of radially extending propeller or agitating blades 2|. These blades are mounted at an angle as shown in Fig. 1 so that when the cylinder 2i! is rotated to the left it will move any material that the members 2! engage upwardly and forwardly. The numeral 22 designates a second elongated cylinder of a diameter less than the diameter of the cylinder 20 secured by any suitable means in its'rear end portion to the forward end portion of the cylinder 26 and extending forwardly in the trough Hi. This cylinder 22 also has the radially extending blades or propellers 23. The numeral 24 designates an elongated rectangular shaft square in cross section and cutting a path when rotated less than that of the path of the cylinder 22 and secured at its rear end portion to the forward end portion of the cylinder 22 by any suitable means. This shaft 2 extends forwardly in the trough member, has the usual blades or propellers 25 and has its forward end portion operating in the bearing member 26 and operatively secured to the large bevel gear 2? on the outer forward end of the trough as shown in Fig. 1. The numeral 28 designates a shaft designed to be operatively secured to any suitable source of rotary power. The numeral 29 designates a bevel gear on the shaft 28 and in engagement with the bevel gear 2?. All of the cylinders 28 and 22 and shaft 2 are eccentrically mounted relative to the bearing members l3 and 26 in order that the cylinders and their propeller blades when rotated will cut elliptical circles relative to the longitudinal axis of the stub shaft l4. All of the agitating or propeller blades are mounted at an angle so that when the cylinders 20 and 22 and shaft 24 are rotated to the left, material will be lifted upwardly and forced forwardly toward the discharge opening l2. If desired, the cylinders 20 and 22 and shaft 24 may be slidably and detachably secured together. The numeral 38 designates a pin or lug extending into the rear portion of the'cylinder 20 secured thereto and loosely riding in the slot I9. This slot IS in the member l8 extends through its forward end as shown in Fig. in orde'r'that the cylinder 23 may be drawn forwardly from the sleevelii.

When thecylinders and shaft 24 are being rotated by the driving shaft 29, a certain amount of gravel, grit or like may get into the bearings. To eleminate the possibility of great harm being done to the bearings by such foreign mat ter, I have provided a water pipe 3| which has one end in communication with a'suitablesource of water under pressure and its other'end communicating with the water passageway l6 as shown in Fig, 5. The numeral 32'designate's a header in the cylinder closing its rear end portion into a compartment 33 as shown'in-Fig. 5. Water from the pipe 3| will pass into and through the passageways I6 and I1, thereby washing the bearing assembly andkeeping it sub- 3,

stantially clear of undesirable foreignmatter. The numeral 34 designates a perforated plate in the housing and closing the right hand lower corner portion of the trough as shown in Fig. 4.

This plate extends from the rear end of the trough to the flange H as shown in Fig. 2 and its hole passageways 35 extend upwardly and in-.

wardly toward the rotatable unit." The'numeral 36 designates a water pipe connection'communh:

cating with the inside of the trough and below theplate '34 asshown' in 4: This connec-w ion 36 is designed to be in communication with a'sour'ce of water under pressure. The numeral 31 designates a similar plate having. outlet passageways 38. This plate '31. encloses the. left hand lower side corner of the trough and ex-.

tends a"substantialdistance forwardly in the trough as shown in Fig. 1 at which point its forward end is closed. The numeral 39 designates a. pipe unit ontherear end of the device communicating with the under side of the plate as andthe under side of the'plate 3:1. 'By'this arrangement, when water is forced into the devicethrough the connection 36, it will spray upwardly and inwardly through the water holes 35 and38 and toward the rotatable agitating unit. The numeral 40 designates a water pipe extending upwardly from the forward end of the plate 34 and having its discharge end terminating into the trough and above the member 24. This pipe 7 24 injects water downwardly onto the 'mass of gravel as it approaches the outlet l2. The numeral 4| designatesa plate on the rear top portion of the trough'lfi and has the side walls 42 and 43 as showni'n Fig. 3. The numeral 44 designates an elongated longitudinal slotopening in thecenter ofthe plate 4| forthe escape of water, dirt, clay, shale, coal and like Thev numeral 45 designates a hopper having its'rear side wall removed and communicating with the top inside of the trough It]. This hopper is locatednear the'rear end of the device and discharges above and to the right of the cylinder unit 26. The numeral Ala-designates a baffle plate extending downwardly and rearwardly in2 the forward end of the hopper 45. This plate 46 guides the material to be washed and cleaned downwardly and through the hopper and at the same time permits the light materials to be discarded such as shale, coal and like to bubble upwardly with the water, not be interfered with with the downward flow of the material to be cleaned, and then out over the rear top portion of the device. The water line in the device should be maintained so that the lower marginal edge ofthis member 46 i adjacent the water line. This water line will decrease in depth due to the inclination of the device as it apl proaches the outlet opening I2. Guide plates 41 i5 and Marc placed in the upper right hand and left hand corner portions of the rear end portion of the trough to confine the material to be acted upon by the blades of the cylinder 20 and also to guide the undesirable light material upwardly toward and through the escape slot opening 44. By the rotatable unit being eccentrically mounted, greater agitation will be given to the material to be treated and clay, coal, shale or like undesirable material clinging to the gravel will be broken up and detached from the gravel as it is moved forwardly by the rotating unit. The paddles or blades 2|, 23 and 25 not only break up and agitate the mass, but mix it and move it forwardly until it eventually passes through the opening l2 in a clean washed state.

Some changes maybe made in the construction and arrangement of my improved apparatus for removing shale, coal and like from gravel without departing from the real spirit and purpose of my invention, and it is my intention to cover by my claims any modified forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents which may be reasonably included within their scope.

I claim:

1. In an apparatus for removing shale, coal and the like from gravel, an elongated trough member extending forwardly and upwardly, an eccentrically rotatably mounted longitudinal elemerit in said elongated trough member, projections on said element, a water supplymeans associated with said trough member, and a drive shaft operatively connected to said eccentrically rotatably mounted element for rotating the same. 2. In an apparatus for washing and cleaning graveL'an' elongated trough member extending forwardly and upwardly, a cylinder inside the rear portion of said trough member having its rear end rotatably mounted on the rear end of said trough member, a second cylinder having a diameter less than the diameter of said first mentioned cylinder inside said trough member and having its rear end secured to the'forward end of said first cylinder, a means for opera tively rotatably mounting the forward end portion of said second cylinder to the forward end portion of said trough, propeller blades on both of said mentioned cylinders; said cylinders clesigned to be rotated within said trough member, a water" supply element communicating with the inside of said trough-member, and a plate on the upper rear end portion of said trough member having an opening.

3. In an apparatus for washing and cleaning gravel, an elongated trough member-extending forwardly and upwardly, a cylinderinside the rear portion of said'trough member; having its rear end rotatably mounted on therear end of said trough member, a second cylinder having a diameter less than the diameter of said first mentioned cylinder inside said trough member and having its rear end secured to the forward end of said first cylinder, a means for operatively rotatably mounting the forward end portion of said second cylinder to the forward end portion of said trough, propeller blades on both of said mentioned cylinders; said cylinders designed to be rotated within said trough member, a water supply element communicating with the inside of said trough member, a plate on the upper rear end portion of said trough member having an opening, and vertically extending side walls on said plate extending parallel with said trough member.

l. In an apparatus for washing and cleaning gravel, an elongated trough member extending iorwarely upwardly and having a bottom side corner, a rotatably mounted unit inside said trough member, radially extending projections on said unit, a perforated plate within said trough member and closing the bottom side corner of said trough member, a water supply connection communicating with the under side of said plate, and a trough on the upper rear end of said first mentioned trough member having its forward and rear ends open.

5. In an apparatus for Washing and cleaning gravel, an elongated trough member extending forwardly and upwardly and having a bottom side corner, a rotatably mounted unit inside said trough member, radially extending projections on said unit, a perforated plate within said trough member and closing the bottom side corner of said trough member, a Water supply connection communicating with the under side of said plate, a trough on the upper rear end of said first mentioned trough member having its forward and rear ends open, a hopper communicating with said first mentioned trough member, extending through said second mentioned trough and having its rear wall removed, and a bafiie member in said hopper extending downwardly and rearwardly.

6. In an apparatus for washing and cleaning gravel, an elongated trough member extending forwardly and upwardly and having a bottom side corner, a rotatably mounted unit inside said trough member, radially extending projections on said unit, a perforated plate within said trough member and closing he bottom side cornor of said trough member, a water supply connection communicating with the side of said plate, a trough on the upper rear end of said first mentioned trough member having its forward and rear ends open, and an elongated slot opening in the bottom or said second trough.

7. In an apparatus for washing and cleaning gravel, an elongated trough member extending forwardly and upwardly and having a bottom side corner, a rotatably mounted unit inside said trough member, radially extending projections on said unit, a perforated plate within trough member and closing the bottom side corner of said trough member, a Water con nection communicating with the under side of said plate, a trough on the upper rear end or said first mentioned trough member having its forward and rear ends open, an outlet opening in the forward bottom of said first trough member, and a flange in the bottom of said first mentioned trough member and to the rear of said outlet opening.

8. In an apparatus for washing and cleaning gravel, an elongated trough member extending forwardly and upwardly and having two bottom side corners, an elongated propelling and a itating unit rotatably mounted within said trough member, a plate closing one side corner bottom of said trough member to form a Water conduit, a plate closing the other side bottom corner of said trough member, to form a water conduit, water passageways extending through said two plates and terminating in a direction toward said rotatably mounted propelling and agitating unit, a conduit having one end communicating with the space below one of said plates and its other end communicating with the space b low said other plate, a water connection communicating with the under side of one of said plates, a plate on the rear top of said trough member having an opening and covering the rear top of said trough, and a baiiie plate in the upper portion of said trough member extending from the side of said trough member to the under central portion of said last mentioned plate and adjacent said opening therein.

CHESTER I. LEVEKE. 

